Syrian passport at Paris attack scene belonged to asylum seeker, minister says

A Syrian passport found by police at the scene of the mass shooting in a Paris concert hall belonged to an asylum seeker who registered on a Greek island in October, a Greek minister said Saturday.

"We confirm that the Syrian passport holder came through the Greek island of Leros on October 3 where he was registered under EU rules," said a statement issued by Nikos Toskas, the minister for citizen protection.

It has not been confirmed that the passport belonged to one of the attackers, but French police are investigating.

The statement by Toskas's said:

As regards the case of the Syrian passport found at the scene of the terrorist attack: We announce that the holder of the passport passed through Leros on 3/10/205 and was identified on the basis of European Union rules, as they were decided at the leaders' summit on the refugee issue.

We do not know if the passport was checked by other countries through which the holder may have passed.

We will continue the painstaking and persistent effort under adverse conditions to boost the safety of our country and Europe, insisting on the full identification of those passing through as part of the refugee influx.

[AFP, Kathimerini]